“OUR VISION: Fostering Vital Communities”

41 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.

The Fellowship of the Believers

42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles.44 All the believers were together and had everything in common.45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need.46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke breadin their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts,47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

FULL TEXT

“Our Vision,” Week 1

FOSTERING VITAL COMMUNITIES

Acts 2:41-47

41 So those who welcomed his message were baptized, and that day about three thousand persons were added. 42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.

43 Awe came upon everyone, because many wonders and signs were being done by the apostles. 44 All who believed were together and had all things in common; 45 they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.

Acts 2:41-47 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

INTRO: Today we begin a 3-part sermon series on our vision at Main Street UMC:

Many of you know that we’ve had a Vision Team working to discern God’s future for Main Street

And as a result of their work we’ve got a new vision statement and a new set of core values, and that’s what I’ll be talking about for the next three Sundays.

BUT FIRST: Let’s talk about a statement we already had, that’s actually more important than the Vision Statement.

Look at [your bulletin / the screen] and look at our mission statement

This is why we exist

This is what we’re doing

Please read that out loud with me:

Our Mission:

To make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.

And we didn’t choose that. These are our marching orders from Jesus himself, based on Matthew 28:

“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations…”

So, the mission is what we’re doing.

The VISION is our dream for what’s going to happen as we carry out the mission.

The mission is the same for every church:

—“Go therefore and make disciples” – that’s what Jesus said

The mission is the same, for every church, in every place, in every time:

But our vision is the unique way that God is calling this church to carry out the mission in this place, at this time